Device for supplying feed-water to boilers



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Deo. 2, 1890.

' (No Model.) C. B. BOSWORTH. DEVICE POE SUPPEYING FEED WATEETO BOILERS. No. 441,740.

' (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

C'. B-BOSWOETHl DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING FEED WATER TO BOILERS.

No. 441,740.l Patented Deo. 2, 1890.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. BOSNVORTH, OF EVERETT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CROSBY STEAM GAGE AND VALVE COMPANY, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR suPPLYlNG FEED-WATER To BolLYER-s.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,740, dated December?, 1890.

' Application tiled October 21,1889. Serial No. 327,748. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. BOSWORTH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Devices for Automatically Supplying Feed-Tater to Steam-Boilers, of which the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention is an improvement in the application of the device shown and described in Letters Patent No. 333,817, granted to me the 5th day of January, 1886,'for an improve- I 5 ment in governors, and relates to the auto-z matic control of the action of steam-pumps when used to supply water to steam-boilers,

so that the water within the boiler shall be maintained at any desired height Without regard to the pressure therein or the weight of Water evaporated. In the device described in the said Letters Patent I located the valve for regulating the pressure of the air from the air-.pump as it flowed into the air-cham- 2 5 ber of the governor at the topof said chamber. I now locate this air-valve at the steamboiler to be supplied by the steam-pump at the end of a pipe connected with the airpump and with the air-chamber; and my invention consists in part of the means provided for automatically controlling such airvalve, and thereby regulating the action of the steam-pump.

Figure l represents in elevation the diaphragm air-pressure chamber in connection with the throttle-valve of the steam-pump. Fig. 2 represents in elevation a system of pipes to be connected with a steam-boiler having an air-valve regulated thermostatically by the rise and fall of the water within the boiler. Fig. 3 represents in sectional elevation the air-valve and a part of its connecting-pipe, full size. Fig. 4t represents in longitudinal vertical section a modified arrangement of the thermostatic device employed at Fig. 2, full size. Fig. 5 represents a transverse vertical section through the eX- pansion-tube shownv in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows in combination all the element-s of construc- 5o tion referred to in the foregoing figures.

Now, referring to the drawings in detail- Figure l represents, in elevation the diaphragm air-pressureA chamber A in its Aconnection with the throttle-valve B of the steam-pump and the pipe C to convey the compressed air from the air-pump b into the chamber A by means of the pipe D, fully shown and described in Fig. I of the drawings of the Letters Patent No. 333,817, before referred to.

Fig. 2 represents in elevation a rectangular frame-work of tubes to be attached' to the steam-boiler, so that the steam and water of the boiler shall enter within said tubes and by their expansion and contraction cause the air-valve E, attached thereto, to open or close, as may be required.- This rectangular fram ework of pipes, beginning at the air-valve E, Fig. 2, is connected with the air-pressure chamber A, Fig. l, by means of air-pipe F G 7o H D and with the air-pump by air-pipe F Gr H C. The tubes I, J, and K are of brass, and the connecting-rods L and M are of iron. The rigid arm N and lever O are of solid brass. 75

Fig. 3 in sectional elevation represents (full size) the air-valve E, air-valve pipe F, and a part of the vertical air-conveying pipe G.

Fig. 4 in longitudinal vertical section represents (full size) a modified arrangement of 8o the expansion-tube, from which equally good results may be obtained, while the device is at once more compact and more easy of construction and application. In this arrangement the expansion-tube P, having its outer end closed, is'screwed into the bored socket Q, the end of which at R is screwed into the steam-boiler at a proper water-level. Within the expansion-tube P the smaller steam-circulating tube S, of a little less than half the 9o diameter of the former, is brazed to the upper part ofthe socket, both ends being left open and one end projecting within the boiler, as shown. To the bottom of this expansion-tube P, which is of brass or other suitable metal, is brazed the bar or strip of iron T, which, being of unequal expansion with brass, produces, under the influence of changing temperatures, upward and downward deiections of the free end of the tube, by means of which the airroo valve U is operated. The vexpansion-tube lA and the air-valve regulating screw V are inclosed within the cylindrical case W, and the air-pipe leading to the governor is shown at X. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through a b, Fig. 4, showing the application of the iron bar 'l to the expansion-tube P and the relative position therein of the small tube S.

The attachment and mode of operation of the several devices are as follows, and will be explained with reference to Fig. 6: The motion for the air-pump is derived from any convenient reciprocating or other moving part of the stea1n-pump,by which it is duly operated. The rectangular frame-work of tubes, to which is attached the air-valve E, may be connected to the boiler by attaching the end of the upper tube I at a point above the highest water-level and by attaching the end of the lower tube K to the middle water-gage connection. In-thisway steam will always be present in the upper tube and water in the lower tube, if it is desired to maintain the water in the boiler to this height. In this condition there will be a dil-ferentdegree of expansion of the two tubes, the upper one being of a greater degree than the lower one, owing to a dierence of temperature. The upper tubewill remain substantially constant both asnto temperature and expansion, while thev lower one will be modified by the constantly-diminishing temperature by radiation ot' the heat from the water confined in the tube. When the waterin the boiler falls below the lower tube, then the water in the latter flows into the boiler, and being replaced by steam the tube expands rapidly under the greater temperature. Now when the water in the boiler is above and tills the lower tube K the air-valve E is closed, and the air forced by the air-pump into the pipe to which it is attached acts also upon the piston or diaphragm Ain the air-chamber of the governor, and compressingthe spring of the governor duly closes the throttle-valve B of the steanrpu mp. If the water falls below the lower tube K and steam iows into it, then the tube, expanding under the increased temperature, opens the air-valve E by means ot' the iron rod L and the lever O, pivoted on the expansion-pipe K, and iron rod M, as shown. The vertical bai-N is solid and wholly withoutmovement either in the pipe F or K. The air-valveEhavingbeen opened, as described, the air from the air-pump flows outward through it, and the spring of the governor being thereby released draws the steam throttle-valve upward, duly opening it for the admission of steam to the pump and setting it in motion. As the pump fills the boiler and alsovthe lower tube, the lowering temperature ot' the in flowing water contracts the latter, and thereby closes the air-valve.

By this means, as shown, the air from the air-pump then acts upon the piston or diaphragm of the governor, giving motion to the steam-pump.

At Fig. 6 is shown in elevation my feedwater-regulating device'as connected with the steam-boiler a by pipes I and K, and with the air-chamber A by pipes G I-I D, and with the air-pump b by pipes GII C. Steam is conveyed from the boiler to the steampump throttle-valve B by pipe c, and through stand-pipe d into the valve-chest of the pump.

'lhe air-pump is operated by lever e, mounted on the steam-pump rock-shaft. From the pump the feed-water passes through pipe f into the boiler.

Instead of using the rectangular frame-` pump attached theretoand operated thereby, y

and an air-chamber having therein a diaphragm or piston to receive the compressed air therefrom, located over the throttle-valve of the steam-pump and connected therewith by a rod operated by the said diaphragm or piston, and an expansion-tube located at the steam-boiler and `connected at its ends with the interior thereof, the lowerend at a proper water-level, so that any longitudinal movement of this branch ot' the expansion-tube arising from change of temperature within it, as from its alternate occupancy by steam or b v water, is transmitted so as to operate upon the air-escape valve situated at the boiler end of the air-pipe, connected at its other end with the air-chamber and air-pump, through the action of which the air-pressure in the connecting-pipes and air-chamber is maintained and the throttlcvalve of the steam-pump duly regulated, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the steam-boiler, of the tubular thermostat opening into the boiler at its inner end and closed at its outer end, and having the tube S and valve U, all arranged substantially as set forth.

CHARLES B. l-EOSWOR'III.

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